With Abreu aboard, Sox's Konerko unsure of future

The Chicago White Sox officially will announce the signing of Cuban slugger Jose Abreu at a news conference Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field, leaving captain Paul Konerko uncertain about his future with the team.

Word leaked out Oct. 17 that the Sox and Abreu had reached a reported six-year, $68-million deal, but Abreu's signing was pending a physical.

The Sox plan to introduce at 11 a.m. the 26-year-old first baseman who defected from Cuba over the summer.

Konerko said by phone Monday he doesn't know much about Abreu -- or about what the signing means for Konerko's future with the Sox. The first baseman/designated hitter said at the end of the season that he needed a month to decide whether he would retire or return for his 16th and final season with the Sox. The club also has first baseman/designated hitter Adam Dunn signed for $15 million next season.

"I guess I really don’t know what the story is behind that," Konerko said. "I’ll meet with them (to find out)."

Konerko, who was vacationing with his wife, said he is waiting to hear from the Sox about when they will meet in the next few weeks to discuss his future. The Sox have said Abreu's signing does not necessarily mean the end of Konerko's career, and Konerko was not ready to talk about his plan for 2014.

"The last 3-4 weeks I've done everything I can to get away from baseball," Konerko said. "I'm just not there yet in terms of any decision."

The Sox hope Abreu, known as a power hitter, will be a spark to their offense. While playing for Cienfuegos in Cuba's Serie Nacional in 2010-11, he led the league with a .453 batting average and, in 66 games, had 33 home runs and 93 RBIs. In the next season, Abreu compiled a .394 average, 35 home runs and 99 RBIs.

“I think I’ve seen him on TV, and he looks like a hitter,” Konerko said.

Sox pitcher Andre Rienzo, who is from Brazil, pitched against Abreu in the World Baseball Classic in March. Abreu went 9-for-25 with three home runs and nine RBIs in six games for Cuba in the Classic.

Rienzo said by email last week that the size of the 6-foot-2, 255-pound Abreu stuck out.

“I remember he has a lot of power,” Rienzo said. “I hope and believe (the signing) is big, and he will go help the team.”